The united militia of South
Carolina and Georgia at this time numbered but thirty-five hundred rank
and file, these colonies being so destitute of white men for the common
defense that a memorial addressed to his majesty King George II. a
little earlier than this event, bearing date April 9, 1734, pathetically
states that "money itself cannot here raise a sufficient body of them."
The search for the suspects, however, although long, exhaustive, and of
such diligence as to convince the Indians of its sincerity of purpose,
resulted fruitlessly. The government presently took occasion to made
some valuable presents to the tribe, not as indemnity, for it could
recognize no responsibility in the strange disaster, but for the sake of
seeming to comply with the form of offering satisfaction for the loss,
which otherwise the Indians would retaliate with massacre.
Nilaque Great with this cloud upon it grew dreary. The strange
disappearance of its cheera-taghe was canvassed again and again,
reaching no surmise of the truth. Speculations, futile as they were
continuous, began to be reinforced with reminiscences of the date of the
event, and certain episodes became strangely significant now, although
hardly remarked at the time; people remembered unexplained and curious
noises that had sounded like muffled thunder in the deep midnight, and
again, scarcely noted, in the broad daylight.
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